Friday, August 05, 2016

James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United
States, had been called “the least known consequential president” in American
history. The youngest man ever to assume the office to that point in American history,
his ability to move his party’s agenda was almost unparalleled in his single
term as President. Restoring an
independent Treasury, reducing tariffs, continuing the westward expansion to
acquire California, New Mexico, and a large portion of what is now Oregon were
completed in his administration. The
Department of the Interior, the first executive agency added since the early
days of the new Republic, was established under his watch.

But there was something…well, unique about Polk that
transcended his accomplishments as President.
A unique, some might say daring quality of style about him. I don’t know.
What do you think…

Polk was a man decades ahead of his time, and not just as an
administrator. He would bring to
Washington a sense of style that would not be duplicated for more than a
century. But it was worth the wait for
one of the most distinctive, unique, and perhaps even beloved characters in Washington
Capitals history. And that brings us to
defenseman Al Iafrate. He might be the
least known consequential defenseman in team history. Once a fourth overall draft pick of the
Toronto Maple Leafs, he developed into a formidable offensive defenseman in his
seven seasons with the Leafs, eventually posting 21 goals and 63 points in
1989-1990, what would be his last full season with Toronto.

Things were not going well for him off the ice, though, and after a slow start to the 1990-1991 season he requested a trade. The request was granted in January 1991 when
the Caps sent center Peter Zezel and defenseman Bob Rouse to Toronto for
Iafrate. He would become a hit. In four years in
Washington, Iafrate scored 58 goals, including a career high 25 in
1992-1993. His 66 points that season
were also a career best, and he finished sixth in the Norris Trophy voting for
the league’s top defenseman.

The consequential nature of his stay in Washington is
two-fold. First, despite appearing in
just 256 games with the Caps (22nd among defensemen in team history), his 58
goals in a Caps uniform ranks him eighth among defensemen in team history. His 176 points ranks tenth on that list. His 11 postseason goals for the Caps is tied
for fourth in team history (with John Carlson) despite his playing in fewer than half the playoff games of anyone ahead of him on that list. And, he had a reputation for having one of, if not the hardest shots of his
generation, regardless of position.

But there was more, a certain style that hearkened back to
another era…

Clearly, if there was one Capital who channeled our 11th
President, linked by the timeless mullet, it could be none other than Al Iafrate.

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING

The Washington Capitals ended the 2016-2017 as one of 12 franchises in the NHL never to win a Stanley Cup. Of that group, only the St. Louis Blues (48 seasons), Buffalo Sabres (45 seasons), and Vancouver Canucks (45 seasons) have gone longer never having won a Cup than the Capitals (41 seasons). Six teams came into the league after the Capitals entered the league in 1974-1975 and have won Stanley Cups: Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils (1976-1977), Edmonton Oilers (1979-1980), Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (1979-1980), Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes (1979-1980), Tampa Bay Lightning (1992-1993), and the Anaheim Ducks (1993-1994).

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